Motor attachment for wheel chairs



Jam, 24, ili s. DUKE MOTQR ATTACHMENT FOR WHEEL CHAIRS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 15, 1,948

94 g 5zz/mz $532 2 BY Z W Jam 24%, W@ s. DUKE 294959573 MOTOR ATTACHMENT FOR WHEEL CHAIRS Filed .Oct. 13, 1.948

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 MOTOR ATTACHMENT FOR WHEEL CHAIRS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed; Oct. 13, i948 atented Jan. 24,. 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI CE 2,495,573 MOTOR ATTACHMENT FOR. WHEEL CHAIRS Samuel Duke, Chicago, I11.

I Application October 13, 1948, Serial No. 54,290

3 Claims.

operator.

A further object is to provide a self-propelled wheel chair having easy riding qualities, that is adapted for indoor or outdoor use and in which the chair, preferably of the folding type, may be collapsed with motor detached and transported in an automobile and instantly assembled for use at the point of destination.

A further object is to provide a self-propelled wheel chair preferably operated by an electric motor serviced by a battery that may be readily charged from the house current. The instant propelling mechanism is designed for ready ap plication to wheel chairs of practically any type but particularly adapted to the chair set forth in my United States Patent No. 2,354,949 granted August 1, 1944.

More specifically my invention resides in the arrangement arid combination of parts and in the details of construction described in the specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is understood that I do not limit myself to the precise embodiment of the invention herewith as various changes may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention. I intend no limitations other than thoseimposed by the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the instant self-propelled wheel chair.

Fig. 2 is a view of the chair in front elevation.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the chair shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view, enlarged, of the motor attachment showing its application, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an end View of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail vertical sectional view taken through Fig. 6 on the line 88.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the starting and steering means and connections.

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a front View of Fig. 10, and,

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic View of the electric circuit.

The reference numeral I denotes the structure which includes upper and lower frame bars or tubes 2, 3, the back 4, seat 5, the rear wheels 6 and front Wheels The upper tubular frame 'members or chair arms 2 are connected to the lower members 3 by the rear frame bars 8 and front vertical frame bars 9 that telescopically engage the sleeves an to which the supports H are secured that carry the foot rests l 2. A steering post 53 is connected by brackets l4, I5 respectively to a frame bar 9 and sleeve In, said post l3 connected by link Hi to a front wheel I, said post at its upper end provided with the operating or steering handle IT.

A control button I8 operatively carried by the post 13 is connected by electrical conductor l9 passing through the post to the starter 20 connected to the motor 2| connected by electrical conductor 22 to the battery 23 connected by the conductor 24 to the button l8 which when manually depressed slightly energizes the starter and when further depressed accelerates the motor. The motor 2! and battery 23 are mounted to the platform 25 having secured thereto the depending bracket 26 that carries the twin type rubber tired traction wheel 21 that is driven by the belt 28 passing through a perforation 29 in the platform to and about the sheave 30 fast upon transmission shaft 3| journaled in brackets 32 carried by the platform, a sheave 33 preferably larger than sheave 30 and also fast upon shaft 3| being connected by drive belt 34 to sheave 35 fast upon the motor shaft 35.

Depending from opposite ends of the platform are brackets 31, 31 that operatively support the rotary shaft 38 retained in adjusted position by the adjustable stop collars 39 on said shaft, said shaft formed with a depending stem 40 centrally disposed and connected by the ball bearing coupling 40a to the central section 4| of the adjustable sectional coupling 4l, 42, 43, the section 4! formed near its ends with elongated slots 44 connected by bolts 45 and nuts 46 to the ends of the terminal coupling sections 42 and 43 formed respectively with the elongated slots 41, 48 receiving said bolts. The remote ends of the coupling terminal sections are connected by U- bolts 49 to the chair frame lower side members 3.

In operation the chair occupant may rest his arm upon the right side chair arm 2 while manually grasping the steering handle I! and with one finger he may gentl depress the button [8 to start the motor and continue same in operation at the speed desired while guiding the chair, the motor through the connections to the traction wheel 2! impelling the chair over the floor or walk. The coupling sections 4!, 42, 43 permit the application of the attachment to chairs of different widths and the ball bearin connection 40a and shaft 38 supported for rotary movement permit the attachment to readily follow the floor or walk topography with maximum traction and without imparting appreciable jar or jolt to the chair. The connection of the attachment to the chair is solely by means of the U-bolts 49 engaging the frame bars 3 so that application of the attachment to or detachment of same from the chair is very readily accomplished.

What is claimed is:

1. In a motor attachment for wheel chairs, a platform, a traction wheel supporting said platform, a motor upon said platform operatively connected to said traction wheel, a rotary shaft secured to and depending from said platform, a sectional adjustable coupling, readily removable means for securing said coupling to the wheel chair, a ball bearing connection between said rotary shaft and said coupling, and starting and control means for said motor secured to the chair in proximity to an occupant thereof, said means including a control button.

, 2. In a motor attachment for wheel chairs having steering means including a steering post and handle therefor, a platform, a traction wheel 4 supporting said platform, a motor upon said platform operatively connected to said traction wheel, a rotary shaft secured to and depending from said platform, a coupling comprising central and terminal sections adjustably connected together, connection between said terminal sections and the chair, a ball bearing connection between said rotary shaft and said coupling, and starting and control means for said motor associated with said steering post, said means including a button on said handle.

3. In a motor attachment for wheel chairs, a platform, a traction wheel supporting said platform, a motor upon said platform operatively connected to said traction wheel, a. rotary shaft operatively carried by and depending from said platform, a sectional coupling disposed below said rotary shaft, terminal sections of said coupling releasably secured to the chair, ball bearing connection between said rotary shaft and one section of said coupling, "and starting and control means for said motor carried by the chair.

SAMUEL DUKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,348,568 Kemble Aug. 3, 1920 1,455,720 Dunkley ,Jan. 3, 1923 

